Retractable fixture for use with a wheelchair

Abstract

Retractable fixtures for use with a wheelchair are disclosed herein. A retractable fixture of one embodiment includes a platform movable between a first position behind the wheelchair and a second position beside the wheelchair. A track having forward and rear ends is beside the wheelchair, and a carriage is configured to travel along the track. The carriage is rotatably coupled to the platform at a front pivot point, and an arm is rotatably coupled to the platform at a rear pivot point. The arm is rotatable about a fixed pivot point. When the platform moves from the first position to the second position, the carriage travels along the track toward the track front end, the platform rotates about the front pivot point in a first direction, and the arm rotates about the fixed pivot point in the first direction.

1. A retractable fixture for use with a wheelchair, comprising:
 an elongate track beside the wheelchair, the track having a forward end and a rear end; 
 a carriage configured to travel along the track; 
 a platform rotatably coupled to the carriage; and 
 an arm rotatably coupled to the platform and coupled to an actuator; 
 wherein the actuator selectively rotates the arm in first and second directions; 
 wherein rotation of the arm in the first direction rotates the platform outwardly from behind the wheelchair, and rotation of the platform outwardly from behind the wheelchair forces the carriage to travel along the track toward the track forward end and the platform to move beside the wheelchair; and 
 wherein rotation of the arm in the second direction rotates the platform inwardly from beside the wheelchair, and rotation of the platform inwardly from beside the wheelchair forces the carriage to travel along the track toward the track rear end and the platform to move behind the wheelchair. 
 
   
   
     2. The retractable fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage box atop the platform. 
   
   
     3. The retractable fixture of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wheelchair includes a battery; and 
 the actuator is electrically coupled to the battery. 
 
   
   
     4. The retractable fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in communication with the actuator for causing the actuator to rotate the arm in the first and second directions, the switch being coupled to an arm of the wheelchair. 
   
   
     5. The retractable fixture of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carriage includes a wheel complementary to the track; and 
 the wheel rotates as the carriage travels along the track. 
 
   
   
     6. The retractable fixture of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the carriage includes a plurality of upper wheels complementary to an upper portion of the track; 
 the carriage includes a plurality of lower wheels complementary to a lower portion of the track; and 
 the upper wheels and the lower wheels rotate as the carriage travels along the track. 
 
   
   
     7. The retractable fixture of  claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the track has a protrusion and each upper wheel includes a groove complementary to the protrusion. 
   
   
     8. The retractable fixture of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the wheelchair includes a battery; 
 the actuator is electrically coupled to the battery; 
 a switch is in communication with the actuator for causing the actuator to rotate the arm in the first and second directions; 
 the switch is coupled to an arm of the wheelchair; and 
 the platform includes at least one of a storage box, a compartmentalized tray, or a generally planar surface. 
 
   
   
     9. A retractable fixture for use with a wheelchair, comprising:
 a track having a forward end and a rear end; 
 means for mounting the track beside the wheelchair; 
 a carriage configured to travel along the track; 
 a platform rotatably coupled to the carriage at a front pivot point; and 
 an arm rotatably coupled to the platform at a rear pivot point, the arm having a fixed pivot point; 
 wherein the fixed pivot point, the rear pivot point, and the front pivot point are configured such that rotation of the arm in a first direction about the fixed pivot point rotates the platform outwardly from behind the wheelchair, and rotation of the platform outwardly from behind the wheelchair forces the carriage to travel along the track toward the track forward end and the platform to move beside the wheelchair. 
 
   
   
     10. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the fixed pivot point is coupled to the track. 
   
   
     11. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the track is generally linear. 
   
   
     12. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the means for mounting the track beside the wheelchair includes means for separating the track from the wheelchair. 
   
   
     13. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the means for mounting the track beside the wheelchair includes a bracket configured to removably attach the track to the wheelchair. 
   
   
     14. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the means for mounting the track includes at least one of a bracket, a weld, or a rivet. 
   
   
     15. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the arm to rotate the arm in the first direction about the fixed pivot point. 
   
   
     16. The retractable fixture of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the wheelchair includes a battery; and 
 the actuator is electrically coupled to the battery. 
 
   
   
     17. The retractable fixture of  claim 16 , further comprising a switch in communication with the actuator for causing the actuator to rotate the arm in the first and second directions, the switch being coupled to an arm of the wheelchair. 
   
   
     18. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the carriage includes a wheel complementary to the track; and 
 the wheel rotates as the carriage travels along the track. 
 
   
   
     19. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the carriage includes a plurality of upper wheels complementary to an upper portion of the track; 
 the carriage includes a plurality of lower wheels complementary to a lower portion of the track; and 
 the upper wheels and the lower wheels rotate as the carriage travels along the track. 
 
   
   
     20. The retractable fixture of  claim 19 , wherein the upper portion of the track has a protrusion and each upper wheel includes a groove complementary to the protrusion. 
   
   
     21. The retractable fixture of  claim 20 , wherein:
 an actuator is coupled to the arm to rotate the driving arm in the first direction about the fixed pivot point; 
 the wheelchair includes a battery; 
 the actuator is electrically coupled to the battery; and 
 the platform includes at least one of a storage box, a compartmentalized tray, or a generally planar surface. 
 
   
   
     22. The retractable fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the platform includes at least one of a storage box, a compartmentalized tray, or a generally planar surface. 
   
   
     23. A retractable fixture for use with a wheelchair, comprising:
 a platform movable between a first position behind the wheelchair and a second position beside the wheelchair; 
 a track beside the wheelchair, the track having a forward end and a rear end; 
 a carriage configured to travel along the track, the carriage being rotatably coupled to the platform at a front pivot point; and 
 an arm rotatably coupled to the platform at a rear pivot point, the arm being rotatable about a fixed pivot point; 
 wherein the carriage travels along the track toward the track forward end, the platform rotates about the front pivot point in a first direction, and the arm rotates about the fixed pivot point in the first direction when the platform moves from the first position to the second position; and 
 wherein the carriage travels along the track toward the track second end, the platform rotates about the front pivot point in a second direction, and the arm rotates about the fixed pivot point in the second direction when the platform moves from the second position to the first position. 
 
   
   
     24. The retractable fixture of  claim 23 , further comprising means for rotating the arm about the fixed pivot point. 
   
   
     25. The retractable fixture of  claim 23 , further comprising means for moving the carriage along the track. 
   
   
     26. The retractable fixture of  claim 23 , further comprising means for mounting the track beside the wheelchair. 
   
   
     27. The retractable fixture of  claim 23 , wherein the platform includes at least one of a storage box, a compartmentalized tray, or a generally planar surface.